A sieve analysis involves a column of stackable test sieves with wire mesh cloth (screen) placed in a mechanical Sieve Shaker (top sieve with the largest screen openings, each lower sieve in the column has smaller openings than the one above).

A sieve, or sifter, is a device for separating wanted elements from unwanted material or for characterizing the particle size distribution of a sample, typically using a woven screen such as a mesh or net or metal. The word "sift" derives from "sieve". In cooking, a sifter is used to separate and break up clumps in dry ingredients such as flour, as well as to .